Objective:

Many urban locales remain unable to meet federal air quality standards for
ozone, in part because motor vehicles produce large amounts of ozone-forming
hydrocarbons. The Clean Alternative Fuels Program was initiated in the 1980s to
encourage the development of new fuels; in 1990, methanol was designated as a
clean alternative fuel by the Clean Air Act Amendments. The proposed use of
methanol as an alternative motor vehicle fuel could have remedial effects on
pollution by decreasing some hydrocarbon emissions and thereby potentially
reducing atmospheric ozone concentrations. As a result, its use could help
address the continued inability of many urban areas of the United States to meet
air quality standards.

If methanol is used as an alternative fuel, humans will be exposed to
increased levels of methanol vapors in evaporative and tailpipe emissions.
Although methanol is clearly poisonous when ingested at relatively high levels,
projections suggest that humans who inhale the low concentrations of methanol
vapors expected to be emitted from motor vehicles will experience little risk of
toxicity. However, inhaling low levels of methanol vapors could pose health
risks for potentially susceptible populations. Because of the known effects of
ethanol on developing fetuses, this population is one that is considered to be
potentially susceptible to the neurotoxic effects of methanol. In fact, some
animal studies have shown that exposure to high concentrations of methanol
(5,000 to 20,000 ppm) can have negative effects on fetal development. In order
to evaluate the possible risks of methanol exposure for developing fetuses, the
HEI funded a study described in this report that was designed to determine the
relationship between methanol exposure and its uptake into and elimination from
the blood of nonpregnant and pregnant rodents. Because fetal toxicity cannot be
studied directly in humans, the information obtained in this study will be
helpful for extrapolating the effects seen in rodents to those anticipated in
humans who are exposed to low environmental levels of methanol and for assessing the consequential risks associated with exposure.

Approach:

Drs. Pollack and Brouwer exposed rats and mice at several different stages of
gestation to methanol intravenously or orally (doses ranged from 100 mg/kg of
body weight to 2,500 mg/kg) or by inhalation (1,000 to 20,000 ppm for 8 hours).
They measured blood, urine, and amniotic fluid concentrations of methanol and
used the data to develop a model of methanol distribution in rodents. It should
be noted that the lowest inhalation exposure used in this study (1,000 ppm for 8 hours) was significantly higher than those predicted for ambient exposures
resulting from the use of methanol fuels (1 to 10 ppm in typical traffic
situations, and as high as 200 ppm in a worst-case scenario such as a
malfunctioning vehicle in an enclosed garage).

Progress and Final Reports:

Main Center Abstract and Reports:

Subprojects under this Center:(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).R828112C042 Does Inhalation of Methanol Vapor Affect Human Neurobehavior?R828112C043 Human Responses to Nitrogen DioxideR828112C044 The Role of Inflammation in Ozone-Induced Lung InjuryR828112C045 How Does Exercise Affect the Dose of Inhaled Air Pollutants?R828112C046 How Do Chemicals in Diesel Engine Exhaust Damage DNA?R828112C047 Effect of Nitrogen Dioxide on Bacterial Respiratory infection
in MiceR828112C048 Effects of Ozone Exposure on Airway EpitheliumR828112C049 Inhalation of Aldehydes and Effects on BreathingR828112C050 Does Ozone Cause Precancerous Changes in Cells?R828112C051 Effects of Formaldehyde on Human Airway Epithelial Cells Exposed in a Novel Culture SystemR828112C052 Carbon Monoxide and Cardiac ArrhythmiasR828112C053 Effects of Formaldehyde and Particle-Bound Formaldehyde on Lung Macrophage FunctionsR828112C054 Mechanisms for Protecting Lung Epithelial Cells Against Oxidant InjuryR828112C055 Relationship of Nitropyrene-Derived DNA Adducts to CarcinogenesisR828112C056 Particle Trap Effects on Heavy-Duty Diesel Engine EmissionsR828112C057 Carbon Monoxide and AtherosclerosisR828112C058 Nitrogen Dioxide and Respiratory Illness in ChildrenR828112C059 Noninvasive Methods for Measuring Ventilation in Mobile SubjectsR828112C060 Oxidant Air Pollutants and Lung Cancer: An Animal ModelR828112C061 Detection of Carcinogen-DNA Adducts: Development of New MethodsR828112C062 Effects of Carbon Monoxide on Heart Muscle CellsR828112C063 Development of Personal Ozone Samplers: Three ApproachesR828112C064 Development of Biomarkers to Monitor Carcinogen ExposureR828112C065 Effects of Prolonged Ozone Inhalation on Collagen Structure and Content in Rat LungsR828112C065II Prolonged Ozone Exposure and the Contractile Properties of Isolated Rat AirwaysR828112C065III Changes in Complex Carbohydrate Content and Structure in Rat Lungs Caused by Prolonged Ozone InhalationR828112C065IV Genetic Control of Connective Tissue Protein Synthesis After Prolonged Ozone InhalationR828112C065V Pulmonary Function Alterations in Rats After Chronic Ozone InhalationR828112C065VII Prolonged Ozone Exposure Leads to Functional and Structural Changes in the Rat NoseR828112C065VIII - IX Studies of Changes in Lung Structure and Enzyme Activitiesin Rats After Prolonged Exposure to OzoneR828112C065X An Innovative Approach to Analyzing Multiple Experimental Outcomes: A Case Study of Rats Exposed to OzoneR828112C065XI The Consequences of Prolonged Inhalation of Ozone on Rats:
An Integrative Summary of the Results of Eight Collaborative StudiesR828112C066 Interactive Effects of Nitropyrenes in Diesel ExhaustR828112C067 Detection of FormaldehydeDNA Adducts: Development of New MethodsR828112C068I Comparison of the Carcinogenicity of Diesel Exhaust and Carbon Black in Rat LungsR828112C068II An Investigation of DNA Damage in the Lungs of Rats Exposed to Diesel ExhaustR828112C068III No Evidence For Genetic Mutations Found In Lung Tumors From Rats Exposed To Diesel Exhaust or Carbon BlackR828112C069 Noninvasive Determination of Respiratory Ozone Absorption: The Bolus-Response MethodR828112C070 The Effects of Inhaled Oxidants and Acid Aerosols on Pulmonary FunctionR828112C071 Biochemical Consequences of Ozone Reacting with Membrane Fatty AcidsR828112C072 DNA Mutations in Rats Treated with a Carcinogen Present in Diesel ExhaustR828112C073 Developmental Neurotoxicity of Inhaled Methanol in RatsR828112C074 Methanol Distribution in Non Pregnant and Pregnant RodentsR828112C075 Is Increased Mortality Associated with Ozone Exposure in Mexico City?R828112C076 Effects of Fuel Modification and Emission Control Devices on Heavy-Duty Diesel Engine EmissionsR828112C077 Metabolic Studies in Monkeys Exposed to Methanol VaporsR828112C078 Effects of Ozone on Pulmonary Function and Airway Inflammation in Normal and Potentially Sensitive Human SubjectsR828112C079 Improvement of a Respiratory Ozone AnalyzerR828112C080 Mechanism of Oxidative Stress from Low Levels of Carbon MonoxideR828112C081 Long-Term Exposure to Ozone: Development of Methods to Estimate Past Exposures and Health OutcomesR828112C082 Effects of Ambient Ozone on Healthy, Wheezy, and Asthmatic ChildrenR828112C083 Daily Changes in Oxygen Saturation and Pulse Rate Associated with Particulate Air Pollution and Barometric PressureR828112C084 Evaluation of The Potential Health Effects of the Atmospheric Reaction Products of Polycyclic Aromatic HydrocarbonsR828112C085 Mechanisms of Response to Ozone Exposure: The Role of Mast Cells in MiceR828112C086 Statistical Methods for Epidemiologic Studies of the Health Effects of Air PollutionR828112C087 Development of New Methods to Measure Benzene BiomarkersR828112C088 Alveolar Changes in Rat Lungs After Long-Term Exposure to Nitric OxideR828112C089 Effects of Prenatal Exposure to Inhaled Methanol on Nonhuman Primates and Their Infant OffspringR828112C090 A Pilot Study of Potential Biomarkers of Ozone ExposureR828112C091 Effects of Concentrated Ambient Particles on the Cardiac and Pulmonary Systems of DogsR828112C092 Cancer, Mutations, and Adducts in Rats and Mice Exposed to Butadiene and Its MetabolitesR828112C093 Effects of Concentrated Ambient Particles in Rats and Hamsters: An Exploratory StudyR828112C094I The National Morbidity, Mortality, and Air Pollution Study: Methods and Methodologic IssuesR828112C094II The National Morbidity, Mortality, and Air Pollution Study: Morbidity and Mortality from Air Pollution in the United StatesR828112C095 Association of Particulate Matter Components with Daily Mortality and Morbidity in Urban PopulationsR828112C096 Acute Pulmonary Effects of Ultrafine Particles in Rats and MiceR828112C097 Identifying Subgroups of the General Population That May Be Susceptible to Short-Term Increases in Particulate Air PollutionR828112C098 Daily Mortality and Fine and Ultrafine Particles in Erfurt, GermanyR828112C099 A Case-Crossover Analysis of Fine Particulate Matter Air Pollution and Out-of-Hospital Sudden Cardiac ArrestR828112C100 Effects of Mexico City Air on Rat NoseR828112C101 Penetration of Lung Lining and Clearance of Particles Containing Benzo[a]pyreneR828112C102 Metabolism of Ether Oxygenates Added to GasolineR828112C103 Characterization and Mechanisms of Chromosomal Alterations Induced by Benzene in Mice and HumansR828112C104 Acute Cardiovascular Effects in Rats from Exposure to Urban Ambient ParticlesR828112C105 Genetic Differences in Induction of Acute Lung Injury and Inflammation in MiceR828112C106 Effects on Mice of Exposure to Ozone and Ambient Particle PollutionR828112C107 Emissions from Diesel and Gasoline Engines Measured in Highway TunnelsR828112C108 Case-Cohort Study of Styrene Exposure and Ischemic Heart Disease InvestigatorsR828112C110 Effects of Metals Bound to Particulate Matter on Human Lung Epithelial CellsR828112C111 Effect of Concentrated Ambient Particulate Matter on Blood Coagulation Parameters in RatsR828112C112 Health Effects of Acute Exposure to Air PollutionR828112C113 Benzene Metabolism in Rodents at Doses Relevant to Human Exposure from Urban AirR828112C114 A Personal Particle Speciation SamplerR828112C115 Validation and Evaluation of Biomarkers in Workers Exposed to Benzene in ChinaR828112C116 Biomarkers in Czech Workers Exposed to 1,3-Butadiene: A Transitional Epidemiologic StudyR828112C117 Peroxides and Macrophages in the Toxicity of Fine Particulate Matter in RatsR828112C118 Controlled Exposures of Healthy and Asthmatic Volunteers to Concentrated Ambient Particles in Metropolitan Los AngelesR828112C119 Manganese Toxicokinetics at the Blood-Brain BarrierR828112C120 Effects of Exposure to Concentrated Ambient Particles from Detroit Air on Healthy Rats and Rats with Features of Asthma or Mild BronchitisR828112C121 Field Evaluation of Nanofilm Detectors for Measuring Acidic Particles in Indoor and Outdoor AirR828112C123 Time-Series Analysis of Air Pollution and Mortality: A Statistical ReviewR828112C126 Effects of Exposure to Ultrafine Carbon Particles in Healthy Subjects and Subjects with AsthmaR828112C128 Neurogenic Responses of Rat Lung to Diesel ExhaustR828112C130-I Relationships of Indoor, Outdoor, and Personal Air (RIOPA). Part I. Collection Methods and Descriptive AnalysesR828112C132 An Updated Study of Mortality Among North American Synthetic Rubber Industry Workers

The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.